EXPLORING FOUR EMPIRES of mesopotamia What were the most important achievements of the four Mesopotamian empires?

vocabulary empire battering ram capital siege tribute astronomy Code of Law Sumerians Marduk Stele Akkadians Sargon Aqueduct Babylonians Hammurabi bas-relief Assyrians Assurbanipal Hanging Gardens of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II

SUMER Ancient Sumer flourished between 3,500 and 2,300 B.C. The city-states were like small, independent countries. City-states often fought over land and water rights. Because the city-states were not unified, they remained exposed to attacks from enemies. Around 2,300 B.C., the Akkadians conquered Sumer.

The akkadian empire An empire is a large territory in which several groups of people are ruled by a single leader or government. First, the Akkadians conquered other lands, and later they used their power to maintain them under their control during 1200 years. The Akkadians arrived from northern Mesopotamia. Their leader was Sargon, a strong king and skilled general. Sargon created the first Mesopotamian empire through powerful military strategies. He assembled a large army which included formations of soldiers carrying shields and lancers He won a vast territory, conquered Uruk, and later he conquered all of Sumer forming a great empire.

Sargon of akkad Sargon used smart political strategies to keep control of his empire. He destroyed the walls of cities to make it harder for people to rebel. He also made sure governors were loyal to him. He became the first king to demand that his sons rule after his death. Sargon ruled his empire for 56 years. His name passed into legend.

Life under sargon of akkad The capital of his empire was the city of Agade. He built up the city with tributes, or money and goods collected from the people he conquered. Agade became a cultural center with many beautiful temples and palaces. The Akkadians used Sumerian irrigation techniques to farm. They used the the Sumerian system of cuneiform writing. They worshipped the same gods and goddesses as the Summerians, although they called them by different names.. Their language gradually replaced the Sumerian language. In art, they became especially well-known for their three-dimensional sculptures and their carved reliefs on stone or steles. After about 200 years, the Akkadian empire fell to new invaders from the north.

Hammurabi and the babylonian empire Hammurabi was the king of Babylon. He united all of Mesopotamia. Between 1,792 and 1,750 B.C., Hammurabi used his Code of Laws to unify his empire and preserve order. The code was written on a stele made of diorite and placed at the entrance to the temple. It had 282 laws mandated by the gods and Hammurabi himself. Laws for trade, for payment for work, for marriage and divorce, for inheritance and contracts. Punishments for stealing, causing injury and other crimes. The Code of Hammurabi did not treat people equally, but even slaves had some rights. They could own property and if they saved enough money, they could even buy their freedom.

Life in the babylonian empire Hammurabi united the empire and made the Babylonian god Marduk supreme over other gods. Hammurabi built roads and created a postal service. Agriculture and trade flourished. Babylon became an important trade center along the Euphrates River and with countries of the Persian Gulf. They traded grain and woven cloth for wood, gold, silver, precious gems, and livestock. The arts also flourished. Writers wrote historical poems that survive to this day. Women had more rights that they did in most ancient societies. They could own property and keep money of their own.

The assyrian empire The line of kings begun by Hammurabi did not rule Babylon for long. Around 900 B.C., the Assyrians began to prepare for war and expand their territory to the south. The Assyrians came from the north. Their capital was Nineveh. They were often ruthless. They were feared for their military power, their cruelty, their war strategies, and their new weapons. They perfected the use of horses and iron weapons in battle.

Assyrian war tactics Assyrians perfected the use of horses and iron weapons. They became extremely good at siege warfare. They were the first to use battering rams and moveable towers to attack city walls. They were often ruthless and made entire populations leave conquered areas.

Life under the assyrians The Assyrians were ruled by powerful kings. Religion was very important and they were obliged to obey the gods. They built beautiful palaces and huge sculptures of winged and human- headed bulls or lions that stood at the entrances of their cities. They dug canals to irrigate their land and keep it fertile. They built some of the earliest aqueducts to bring drinking water to Nineveh. They were known for their two-dimensional sculptures or bas-reliefs. They used ivory to decorate thrones, beds, chairs, and doors.

The neo-babylonian empire After the fall of Nineveh, the Babylonians regained control of Mesopotamia and established a new (Neo) empire. Nebuchadnezzar II – king and ruthless military leader Expanded his empire, drove the Egyptians out of Syria, conquered part of Canaan. Took most of the Hebrews captive and carried them off to Babylon as slaves. This is known as the Babylonian Captivity.

Nebuchadnezzar ii and babylon Nebuchadnezzar worked hard to give Babylon the splendor it had enjoyed under Hammurabi. He built a double wall around Babylon so thick two chariots could pass each other. Towers were placed on the walls for archers to stand on. A moat was dug around the outer wall and filled with water. People used bridges to cross the moat and enter the city. In times of war, the bridges were taken down.

Life in the neo-babylonian empire From 605-562 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the city’s ziggurat. It was called the “House of the Platform Between Heaven and Earth.” The palace had fabulous gardens, rooftops and tall terraces with lush greenery hanging down over the walls. A watering system kept the gardens fresh and green. The ziggurat was one of the great wonders of the ancient world. The Babylonians were skilled mathematicians and astronomers. They created the first sun dial, the 60-minute hour and the 7-day week. The Neo-Babylonian empire lasted only 75 years. In 539 B.C.E., Cyrus the Great, the leader of the Persian Empire, conquered Babylon.